When his aunt again spoke of
the will he desired her with much emphasis not to allude to the
subject. "If the property is to come to me," he said, "anything of
good that may be in it cannot be much sweeter by anticipation. And
if it is not I shall only encourage disappointment by thinking of
it."
"But it would be such a shame."
"That I deny altogether. It was his own to do as he liked with it.
Had he married I should not have expected it because I am the heir.
But, if you please, aunt, do not say a word more about it."
THE AMERICAN SENATOR.
On the Sunday morning he heard that Mrs. Morton was gone to London,
and then he walked over to Bragton. He found that she had locked
and sealed up everything with so much precision that she must have
worked hard at the task from the hour of his death almost to that
of her departure. "She never rested herself all day," said Mrs.
Hopkins, "till I thought she would sink from very weariness." She
had gone into every room and opened every drawer, and had had every
piece of plate through her fingers, and then Mrs. Hopkins told him
that just as she was departing she had said that the keys would be
given to the lawyer. After that he wandered about the place,
thinking what his life would be should he find himself the owner of
Bragton. At this moment he almost felt that he disliked the place,
though there had been times in which he had thought that he loved
it too well.
Pages:
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659